There's a theory about drug addiction which is often overlooked when it comes to the so-called "War on Drugs". Popular opinion has it that drugs contain chemicals which cause an individual's body to crave them, so that they find it almost impossible to give up.

The emotional side of drug abuse is all too often overlooked. Drug addicts are typically dehumanised, portrayed as skanky monsters, as losers, or wasters. A drain on society. Indeed, there's a good reason for that: addicts are a nightmare. Potentially, they're a disruptive element in society, the more serious addicts are willing to say anything, and do anything, to get their next fix. Long-term drug addicts stay stuck, emotionally, at the age they were when they started using.

However, what this tends to overlook is the emotional damage that not only creates an addict in the first place, but which keeps them trapped in their addiction. However, there's a school of wisdom that's gaining traction, which suggest that if you improve an addict's environment, and offer them social connections, you potentially break their addiction cycle.

Early experiments with addictive substances in the 1960s would place rats alone in cages, and give them a choice of plain water, or water laced with heroin or cocaine. Ninety percenty of the rats would choose the drugged-up water, and keep choosing it until they overdosed and died.

However, in the 1970s, a Canadian professor of psychology called Bruce Alexander tried a different approach. Instead of the bare, basic cage containing just one rat - he gave rats a luxury, shared habitat called "Rat Park". It offered mental stimulation in the form of coloured balls and tunnels, and he fed them the best quality food. Less than a quarter of the rats in Rat Park opted for the drug-laced water.

The rats who went from a depressing, isolated cage to Rat Park would - after some initial symptoms of withdrawal - return to a normal, drug-free, existance.

RATPARKLIFEHeroin is a painkiller - indeed, a form of it is used in hospitals as exactly that. It can numb not only physical pain and discomfort, but emotional distress too.

​Yet, how many hospital patients seek out heroin once they leave?

More or less none of them - even after months of being administered the drug, when popular opinion would have it that they should've developed an all-consuming habit.

​During the Vietnam war, an estimated 20 percent of US troops were addicted to heroin. Once they returned home - once they were out of that Hellish warzone - a reported 95 percent of them simply stopped using.

So, what's that all about... and what does it have to do with video games?

HARI UPIn his book Chasing The Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, the author Johann Hari argues that human beings - just like rats - have a profound need to bond and form connections.

If no human contact is available, we'll instead attempt to form that bond with whatever we have to hand.

Street drug addicts, he states, are as isolated as the rats in the first cage were (though arguably, many drug addicts also get a sense of community from their addiction - being surrounded, at times, with other like-minded users, which also gives them a reason to stay addicted).

With no alternative on offer, they simply keep using. Even when in what might otherwise be a healthy relationship, drug abuse itself can isolate people further from those around them, leading to a spiral of addiction from which it is virtually impossible to break.

Talking about his book, Hari wrote: "This has huge implications for the one-hundred-year-old war on drugs. This massive war - which, as I saw, kills people from the malls of Mexico to the streets of Liverpool - is based on the claim that we need to physically eradicate a whole array of chemicals because they hijack people’s brains and cause addiction.

"But if drugs aren’t the driver of addiction - if, in fact, it is disconnection that drives addiction - then this makes no sense. Ironically, the war on drugs actually increases all those larger drivers of addiction.

"I went to a prison in Arizona where inmates are detained in tiny stone isolation cages for weeks and weeks on end to punish them for drug use. It is as close to a human recreation of the cages that guaranteed deadly addiction in rats as I can imagine. And when those prisoners get out, they will be unemployable because of their criminal record — guaranteeing they with be cut off even more."

He goes on to add: "Human beings are bonding animals. We need to connect and love... we have created an environment and a culture that cut us off from connection, or offers only a parody of it (in the form of) the Internet.

​"The rise of addiction is a symptom of a deeper sickness in the way we live - constantly directing our gaze towards the next shiny object we should buy, rather than the human beings all around us."

TWO-FIFTH HARMONYIn 2014, two-fifths of older people claimed that the TV was their main form of companionship.

Indeed, how many of the rest of us use Twitter, or Facebook, or Instagram, or playing games online as a substitute for face-to-face social contact, or real relationships?

How many of us have ever found ourselves "addicted" to a game?

​How often are the games we play a form of social contact placebo, a sort of Band-Aid on a bigger emotional problem? Do we play because the games are addictive, or do we play because we're trying to get something from games that isn't being fulfilled elsewhere?

I'm not for a second arguing that video games are dangerous, but the reasons we play can be as myriad as the reasons we do anything. There's simply nothing that we do in our lives which cannot be traced back to some emotional process, or damage.

Loneliness absolutely sucks. My life is good now, but I've been there. I've felt lonely, and I know that when I was lonely I craved connection. The lonelier and more isolated I felt the more I craved it. As the emotional bonds of my relationship got stretched ever more thinly, the more alone I felt, and I would pull away even further to seek connections. When you're drowning in a rough sea, and looking for something to help you float, you're not too fussy about your choice of driftwood. I didn't even know that what I was feeling was loneliness until a therapist once said to me: "You sound lonely..."

And then it hit me like a ton of bricks.

Even now I know that I feel the pull of my primal instinct to form a bond when playing a game. It's why I love the games by Naughty Dog so much; The Last of Us and the Uncharted series feature characters with whom I feel an emotional connection. I want to spend time with them. That's the direction I'm hoping games are heading in; ways to reach out to us, emotionally.

I know while I'm playing games that I'm not worrying about bills, about debt, about work. I'm temporarily distracted, the games releasing all kinds of chemicals in my brain which act as a sort of painkiller, just like heroin does.

NOT A PROBLEMAnd so video games, like heroin, like cocaine, like Twitter, like anything to which people can become addicted, or form a habit with, aren't the problem.

The problem is a society in which we've become increasingly isolated from one another. Games are great, but if it's all we do then all we're doing is isolating ourselves further, and exacerbating our loneliness.

​Not only that, but you see the need for bonding in movements such as Gamergate, the alt.right, feminism, veganism, Star Wars fans, Whovians, or any other community which has gained a collective voice in this online age.

Being a part of these groups gives a sense of belonging, a sense of feeling less alone in the world - yet the connections are strained through the filter of screens and electronic interfaces. It's the difference between chocolate and that horrible "chocolate-flavoured candy".

Yet in the place of anything more real, it offers a semblance of communual purpose in the world, and that's why it's virtually impossible to argue with any of these groups, or convince them that they're wrong in their beliefs.

To do so you are literally threatening them with yet more social isolation - something we're programmed to fight against, no matter what. It might not be a conscious process, but evolutionarily we're programmed to believe that social isolation equates to our own death, and that's a very big thing to threaten someone with.

Not only that, but their view of the world will alter to fit with what they want or need to believe is the correct view of the world, to make themselves feel safe.

I do wonder if part of the reason why these groups shout louder now, argue ever more vociforously, have gained traction, is because they're trying to shout over the gulf between their members, because these groups are chiefly collections of individuals sitting at computers - rather than making genuine social connections in a town hall or bierkeller. I dunno.

In a column for The Guardian in 2014, the activist George Monbiot wrote: "We were social creatures from the start, mammalian bees, who depended entirely on each other. The hominins of east Africa could not have survived one night alone.

"We are shaped, to a greater extent than almost any other species, by contact with others."

One of my favourite things is to smoke a fat spliff and play civilization for 6 hours whilst ignoring phone calls and any other contact from the outside world. There were times over the last year or two where I followed this pursuit way too often (not just civ but other games too) using both drug and game addiction in order to mask/forget/suppress physical pain and a growing feeling of depression. Both of which I still struggle with at times but have found actual interaction with friends and loved ones to be the best way to feel fulfilled and uplifted. I am extremely grateful to good have people around me and genually feel for those that don't have the same level of support.

Having lost a few people to suicide and overdose in my life, I hope to see the day where drug use is not seen as a dirty criminal act confined to the perimeters of 'normal' society. Becoming something that can be talked about and addressed openly, with the right help available for those that need it, is the only way to win the 'war'.

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Duck Legend

11/1/2017 11:36:58 am

Good post. The issue with accepting drugs into normal society is that we have to make people aware that as well as being potentially damaging, they also feel really, really good, and then expect people to be able to handle that. (I'm an older wiser man now but there was a time in my life when I would've tried smack, if I knew it was clean and legal)

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Treacle

10/1/2017 08:25:44 pm

As someone who had a massive problem with addiction, (it cost me my marriage, my home, my livelihood and three years of my life in prison) I found that a great article. To everyone outside of my little bubble I was successful, popular and happy, but I felt utterly alone and emotionally isolated from everyone around me. One if the many things I learned in my treatment programme was the difference in being lonely and being alone, that they differ as the latter can be a choice but the former is imposed on us. It was during my time on bail that I got back in to gaming and would say that it became the new substitute for the lack of emotional fulfilment previously compensated for by addiction. Pleased to say that these days I'm in a much better place, with gaming being one of the few artifacts that's made it in to my "new" life. Oh, and sorry if that all sounded a bit of a rant.

I know for a fact that my interest in games like Animal Crossing (and Tomodatchi Life) increase as I have less frequent social contact then dwindle during the periods when I have more social contact with them.

I mostly game now as a social thing, something I do with friends. Which is annoying as they work nights and my commitments are during the light hours.

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A John Carmack Story

11/1/2017 01:45:22 am

"that's a very big thing to threaten someone with."
Inconceivably so.
Damien Hirst's 'The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living', deals with... exactly what it says on the vitrine.

I've never been that engaged by the stories in the games I've played and part of me still really sees a video-game as a guide the hoop around the frame without touching the sides kind of experience. Just with more bells and whistles... sometimes with a tedious story.

Ridge Racer is a lot of fun.

Halo, Gears of War, Call of Duty... I'd rather spend the day forcing peanuts behind my eyes than pay attention to what all that shit was actually about.

Marcus is upset because somebody is dead. Marcus is dead and somebody is upset.

Not me.

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Goomba 1047 is having an existential crisis

11/1/2017 10:49:32 am

Continued from the above -

"That's the direction I'm hoping games are heading in; ways to reach out to us, emotionally."

I'm not going to say that movies and books take care of that well enough (even though in a 'have your cake and eat it too' way, I just did) because there's no reason why strong narrative, well scripted characters and quality voice-acting shouldn't also be enjoyed in an interactive fashion. But, personally, it's just not something I think I need (want).

The games I've really enjoyed recently have been Mario Run, Wii Party U and the NES classic, The Legend of Zelda.
My youngest brother (10 years my senior) and a dear friend of mine both prefer narrative driven games - they think a lot of the games I enjoy are boring. Ironic really since I don't have to sit through (what feels like) hours upon end of schlock.

But I'm happy that everyone is catered for - genuinely so.
I'd swap H for Coke, I think is my point.

Are games a crotch or enabler for loneliness?
I'm lucky and don't have to face living on my own or even 'feel' like I'm living on my own and so I'm not a bell-weather for this but sure, I can see how people might find solace in games.
I remember reading something about a PC game called 2nd Life. My memory is vague but I recall reading that it had a strong following among those with identity issues.

Games can be so much more than what I want from them - but then this right now - most people would want to stab me if I went on about games like this. I love reading, thinking and talking about games and what you do, by taking all that and often seeing the funny side... beyond brilliant.

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My name is Dean and I am an addict

11/1/2017 01:16:29 pm

In conclusion:

My own non-struggle with game addiction is that I struggle to be sufficiently stimulated by TV or books. I find it hard to watch movies without my mind taking a little wander... what's for tea... are other people only pretending to be engaged by this...
There are exceptions of course but games involve you in an interactive sense and that pulls me in.

I love playing games in many ways for the same reason why I love playing the guitar - it feels good and when you press here you make that happen. It's satisfying to get a good rally going or to traverse a difficult piece without slipping up.

When you've got a great game on the go it gets under your skin (like a dirty big syringe) and makes you hungry for more.
I get hooked on the 'feeling' of playing games - that centrifugal pull of Ridge Racer or the nervous bunny hopping of Mario.
I love how you can feel it in your stomach.
That's my poison.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but my take on game addiction is coming at it from a different point of view.

Greggs bag drifting on the breeze

11/1/2017 09:14:02 am

Great piece Biffo, liked it a lot. Some very cogent points.

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Mr Biffo

11/1/2017 10:29:51 am

Thanks, "Greggs bag".

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Clive Peppard

11/1/2017 12:56:10 pm

I think this speaks so much to so many of us.

As a 30 something husband and father of 3 my social life is non existant - i work, i deal with the kids, i spend quality time with the wife.

But when i get down time i revert to the only place i have real social connections nowadays and thats online. be it Destiny, ESO, or whatever else i play with the same people, i consider them among my best friends although Ive only ever met them (fleetingly) once for a Pint in Bristol.

As a youngster (student) all we did was get high and play 4 player goldeneye on the N64 or Worms or Tekken 3 on the PS1, that was a room full of people of like mind doing something together, now we do that but on our own in isolation (and less high).

It is kind of sad and i would like to get back to the days of my early 20's of getting in from the pub and banging FIFA or Brian Lara cricket on and playing with your mates until the sun came up or they passed out on your sofa.

Adulthood/parenthood isnt conducive to this (nor is the wife or employer) so you settle for what you can get with friends either electronic or actually meat based online.

I do think it is an addiction and i do think its based on your emotional state to some extent - at the darkest times in my life Ive always hidden in a game, if youre playing you arent you and your problems (however temporarily) dont exist.

thats enough from me i think, great article Biffster

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Penyrolewen

11/1/2017 10:25:41 pm

Great article Biffo- very thought provoking.
Duck legend makes a point that you very rarely hear; drugs are really, really good.
They make you feel amazing, that you're the King of the world, that you're invulnerable, they show you profound things, they make you see and feel things you've never imagined (depending on the drug). If you've never tried any, it's true, drugs are great. For a while anyway, and for lots of people, for a long time. If you have tried some, you know this.
So if life is shit, why wouldn't you take drugs? They're cheap and much better than real life. Much cheaper and better than people often think.
Those of us lucky enough to have good lives realise eventually that regular, persistent drug use is incompatible with maintaining a job or meaningful relationships and so just walk away (with maybe the occasional crazy night/weekend) but the key point is: good lives. If yours isn't, there's no reason to stop.
And yes, that prevents any potential improvement in your situation but many people don't see even the possibility of this.
I've never dared try heroin, it has messed up so many people who seem to have it all sorted out. It must be REALLY good. I've heard that it is from folk who've got pretty deep into it.
So I count myself lucky that a) I've got a good life that's worth coming back to and b) I've never been brave or hedonistic enough to try H. But I'd never condemn people who are 'addicts'.
I guess I'm just agreeing with you Biffo, in a long-winded and unfunny way. Change people's situations (like the soldiers you mentioned) and there'd be no need to do the stuff. But for many, I can see why they do.
Cheers for the good read (as usual).